Broad has been added to England’s squad for the five-match, 50-over series against South Africa after Liam Plunkett pulled out with a thigh strain.

Broad was one of the victims of England’s dismal World Cup campaign last year. He has not played white-ball cricket for England since their final match of that competition against Afghanistan in Sydney.

Liam Plunkett has picked up a thigh strain

England decided to look at new bowlers last summer, but with Plunkett and Steven Finn both pulling out of the squad the selectors feel they need a tall pace bowler on South African pitches.

Plunkett retains his place in the squad for the two Twenty20 matches against South Africa as long as he recovers from his injury in time.

“I'm desperate to play white-ball cricket again for England,” said Broad, earlier this week. “You have a short career and I'm not going to play until I'm 37 or 38, so I want to play as much cricket as I possibly can. My consistency has got better with the red ball probably through playing more exclusively red-ball cricket.

Broad is now the No 1 Test bowler in the world

“I don't think the fitness thing is a direct correlation because I've taken the most Test wickets since 2011 and I've played white ball cricket through that, but I am as fit as I've ever been now. I'm as fresh as I've ever been, the knee surgery was the best decision I've ever made, and I'm loving my cricket.

“The coach puts all the emphasis on the players, the atmosphere in the changing room is all about entertainment and that suits my style of playing. It is all about changing the momentum of games. Let's go and entertain this crowd.”

Broad is England’s third highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket and if his body can cope with playing two formats he has time to overhaul James Anderson in top spot. Anderson, who has also not played one-day cricket since the World Cup and looks unlikely to be recalled, has taken 269 wickets with Broad on 177.